PHP, planning board discuss two senior housing options

The Paxton Housing Partnership met April 9 with Eleanor White and Chuck Eisenberg of the Housing Partners, Inc. to discuss options for the 10-acre Klingele property while across the hall the planning board held a hearing on a senior overlay district. Both groups are concerned about senior housing in town.

The overlay district would be created on the 56-acre Muir Meadow property owned by Edward Blanchard and David Richards.

"We are in the conceptual stage now. Anyone proposing senior housing has to change the zoning according to town bylaw. By coming before the planning board tonight, we are looking for approval to be heard by the town," said engineer Kevin Quinn of Quinn Associates, Inc.

Muir Meadows is located off Cutler Road. Blanchard is looking to create 61 single-family homes each with a twocar garage. They would be detached units, but the roads would be privately owned and the development would be run like a condominium complex. The housing would be for people over age 62.

"Each unit would be approximately 1,500 square feet without the garages. This is a different type of project for Paxton, but we believe it is a good, marketable, affordable project for the town," Blanchard said.

Meanwhile the PHP was discussing the fact that 20 units of cottage-style affordable housing would not be enough to make their project work financially. White believes a minimum of 40 non-cottage style homes are necessary.

"It is our first hope to build rental apartments for $1,000 to $1,200 per month. We don't wish to use an equity model at this time," PHP Chairman Marth Akstin said.

Eisenberg said that would be very difficult to do for 20 units, but it is possible with age-restricted housing.

"We would need to get our facts through a marketing study in order to know who is likely to spend $1,000 a month to live in Paxton," Eisenberg said.

The PHP did not make any decisions at the meeting as they did not have a quorum.

At the planning board meeting, Cutler Road resident Joe Johns expressed concerns about access as well as traffic. He also wanted to know how many homes could be built without the zoning change.

"Access will be off of Route 122 not Cutler Road," Quinn said.

"I feel this is the worst possible use for this parcel at this time," Johns said.

"There is no plan in front of us tonight. We are approving the request for this to go to town meeting," said planning board member David Bennett.

Without the senior overlay and with the access to Cutler Road, 34 single- family homes can be built. Without Cutler access, 12 homes could be built, Quinn said.

"We'd like to see a quality project. It's a lovely community and we want this project to reflect that," Blanchard said.

Chairman Julie Jacobson said that when a plan comes before them they would address residents' concerns. Quinn said a traffic study would be among the requirements.